August 7th, 2010 Mediterranean Cruise

[Displaced CA Girl]

Hi folks, glad you have been able to book what you want.

Have woken up early this morning to book. Have managed brunch & dinner at Palo and booked excursions for Rome (Vatican trip) and Naples (Capri). Also my DW has booked 2 Spa services. Going to do Malta, Cinque Terre and Monaco on our own - Malta we know very well from past visits and taking the train in the other 2 ports. Will wander around Ajaccio.

No luck with High Tea, looks like these may not have been released yet? Last Med Cruise, we were able to book on board, but will keep checking back.
Going with friends and have managed to book Palo with them but not excursions yet as they are cruising for the first time and can't book yet

Excitement mounting, seem to be planning something every day

We will be joining you on the Vatican trip! My teenage girls are excited about that one! I havn't read any reviews of this excursion yet. Have you? Looks like it will be a long day! Lisa

 

[xsjackson]

I am so excited with getting everythign we wanted. My sister's youngest two kids would rather stay on board. When we went on the Disney trip over Christmas 08 they only left the club for Castaway Cay. So since this isn't much of a beach vacation we chose the beaches in the afternoon in Corsica for everyone.

My husband, myself and my oldest - 19yrold - did the eastern med with RCCL last summer. We started and ended in Rome so we did alot of the tours and spent an extra three days in Rome doing catacombs, Vatacan and other historic sights. I was hoping for a quiet ship but it seems that there will be alot of people saying behind everyday. Oh well, relaxing anyway.

As for "Nice and Easy with Wine and Cheesy" - our name for that tour my sister's older kids DS12 and DD10 said they would club it for the afternoon rather than go with us. Their loss. My sister has been complaining since Highschool that I got to go to Spain in 1976 and when her turn came in 1978 we moved and she lost her chance to go to France. So this is her replacement trip 32 years late. She got to choose France excusrsions and I got to choose the rest We are leaving the hubbies behind and taking our Dad - watch us act like kids instead of 40 something adults.

Susan

 

[jd99]

A sunny thought on a rainy day!

 

[ukmickeyc]

I'm sure it will be a long day! However on our Med Cruise in 2007 we went to Rome on a different Disney trip on the Train and it was great. Even had a few Disney surprises! Our DD (now 17) really enjoyed it. We are going with our friends who have a DD (17) & DS (14) & it is their 1st cruise!

 

[LisaWalkerC21]

A sunny thought on a rainy day!

I like the way you think! Here is another one of my favorite rainy day pictures...I have it as my screen saver on my phone. (I sure hope the link works, I have never attached a picture in a message before )

 

[jd99]

So what is our thread doing at the bottom of page 3 ready to slip to page four? The cruise is fast approaching folks! Gotta keep us on page one.

We had the DCL excursion to a beach resort in Tunisia booked - we wanted to do the beach and ride a camel - both available here -- but the last time I signed in to my cruise activities, the excursion was gone! I asked a question on the general board and someone on a May cruise said they had received a call from DCL that the excursion was canceled - with no reason given. I'm guessing there was a problem with the tour operator or resort. Kind of bummed because now we don't have anything planned for Tunis and don't see anything on the DCL list that appeals to us (and our two kids).

What are you all doing in Tunisia?

 

[Allesma]

We are going to the Bado museum and Mdina Family tour kids can make mosaic with the instuctors from the youth club. In another post someone was enthousiast about the Dougga tour from DCl (they even liked it better than Pompei).

Have a disney day!

 

[LisaWalkerC21]

So what is our thread doing at the bottom of page 3 ready to slip to page four? The cruise is fast approaching folks! Gotta keep us on page one.

We had the DCL excursion to a beach resort in Tunisia booked - we wanted to do the beach and ride a camel - both available here -- but the last time I signed in to my cruise activities, the excursion was gone! I asked a question on the general board and someone on a May cruise said they had received a call from DCL that the excursion was canceled - with no reason given. I'm guessing there was a problem with the tour operator or resort. Kind of bummed because now we don't have anything planned for Tunis and don't see anything on the DCL list that appeals to us (and our two kids).

What are you all doing in Tunisia?

We actually decided to not do an excursion that day. Nothing really appealed to us either. After reading some reviews of that port and the fact that we are doing a full day excursion in Malta the day before, we are going to take it easy. It looked like there were camel rides when you get off the ship, so we might check that out, but plan to stay close to home base in Tunisia and go all out for many of the other ports.

I also think we will stay close to home base in Corsica too for the same reasons...minus the camel rides

How's everybody making out with all their planning? I agree need to keep the chit chat going and stay on page 1! The trip is fast approaching

 

[LisaWalkerC21]

Hi -

Okay, curious what everyone is using for bags while in port? I did purchase a small black Pacsafe backpack but not really crazy about using it in every port. Trying to figure out what both my husband and I should use to carry around our camera, video camera plus all the other stuff we may need.

Just thought I would throw it out there to see what other people use and what are some must have items to bring along while in port.

 

[Allesma]

Hi -

Okay, curious what everyone is using for bags while in port? I did purchase a small black Pacsafe backpack but not really crazy about using it in every port. Trying to figure out what both my husband and I should use to carry around our camera, video camera plus all the other stuff we may need.

Just thought I would throw it out there to see what other people use and what are some must have items to bring along while in port.

Marc and I carry a small pacsafe bag for our pasport end card etc. my eldest will carry a regular backpack for water camera etc. (eastpack) and I always bring a small fold up bag (for the souvenirs and I try to buy wine and cookies/or candy or other local specialties) to bring them on the ship.

 

[jd99]

which pacsafe products do you all have? I was looking at the "digibag" - a small bag to hold camera, cell phone and ID. Looks reasonable size wise I really don't want anything too big...

 

[Allesma]

which pacsafe products do you all have? I was looking at the "digibag" - a small bag to hold camera, cell phone and ID. Looks reasonable size wise I really don't want anything too big...

I have the metrosafe 100 pacsafe to carry ID passes small digital camara. Like al the pockets and the closing of the zippers.

Have a disney day!

 

[LisaWalkerC21]

I got the Sling Safe 200 over the holidays. Here is a link:
http://www.pacsafe.com/www/index.php?_room=3&_action=detail&id=107

I don't have a compact camera so I am trying to figure out how to carry that along with the video camera - though my husband and I will probably split those up. So many choices!

 

[jd99]

I got the Sling Safe 200 over the holidays. Here is a link:
http://www.pacsafe.com/www/index.php?_room=3&_action=detail&id=107

I don't have a compact camera so I am trying to figure out how to carry that along with the video camera - though my husband and I will probably split those up. So many choices!

Really like the look of that one. I may have to put it on my shopping list.

 

[LisaWalkerC21]

Really like the look of that one. I may have to put it on my shopping list.

Mine was purchased on ebags and my mom had a coupon too that I found on-line. It really is a cute bag. Not too big and a bit stylish too I like that it can be worn a couple different ways.

 

[Allesma]

Mine was purchased on ebags and my mom had a coupon too that I found on-line. It really is a cute bag. Not too big and a bit stylish too I like that it can be worn a couple different ways.

I like this one also, shame that it isn't sold overhere and I do not want to pay a fortune for shipping.

 

[dustermom02]

Just got the in-laws booked on all the shore excursions that they wanted. Unfortunately there is nothing for tea or brunch. I was hoping they would open a bunch more tonight for brunch - was really hoping for brunch on our anniversary. Just a bit disappointed. Hope everyone else is having good luck!

 

[Allesma]

Just got the in-laws booked on all the shore excursions that they wanted. Unfortunately there is nothing for tea or brunch. I was hoping they would open a bunch more tonight for brunch - was really hoping for brunch on our anniversary. Just a bit disappointed. Hope everyone else is having good luck!

I expect that when you get waitlisted when you check in and explain it's your anniversary, they arrange a reservation for you at Palo's for the brunch.

 

[jd99]

Just got the in-laws booked on all the shore excursions that they wanted. Unfortunately there is nothing for tea or brunch. I was hoping they would open a bunch more tonight for brunch - was really hoping for brunch on our anniversary. Just a bit disappointed. Hope everyone else is having good luck!

Don't even worry about it. When you get on the ship, go right to the dining change/Palo reservation area and tell them what's up. They'll make it good for you. On our first DCL cruise, we were clueless...didn't even know what Palo was or that we could book before getting on the ship. By the time we sailed we had learned a bit more and we were able to get brunch and dinner on the days we wanted. In fact, we got a call to come a second time for brunch if we wanted (we chose not to).

 

[dustermom02]

In fact, we got a call to come a second time for brunch if we wanted (we chose not to).

That is good news- I will be signing up as soon as I get on the ship. And I didn't realize we could eat more than one brunch there. I love their brunch.

What time is everyone planning to arrive at port? I haven't checked the previous cruise reports to see what the earliest time is that we can check in. My experience in FL was that you could really check in before the time that was advertised.

And I got myself a pacsafe purse that seems a little big and I got my husband a pacsafe backpack that seems a little small. We'll see how they work out.

I just got back from a 1 night trip with my daughters school and I was horrified at how much I packed for just 1 night. I'm really going to have to rethink our packing.